Method and apparatus for puddling iron



April 13 1926. 1,580,533

F. E. RICHARDSON El AL METHOD ANI? APPARATUS FOR PUDDLING IRQN o T m cM M v i a. m 9M n F F. E. RICHARDSON ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUDDLING IRON April 13 192s. 1,580,533

Filed April 23, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1,580,533 F. E. RICHARDSON ET AL- 1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PUDDLING IRON April 13 1926.

Patented Apr. 13, 1926.

UNITED STA'TES I 1,580,533 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. RICHARDSON, OF SEWICKLEY, AND JOHN H. BARR,

OF PITTSBURGH, PENN- SYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO PITTSBURGH FORGE AND IRON COMPANY, OF PITTS- BUBGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS-FOR PUDI JLING IRON.

Application filed April 2-3, 1324.v Serial No. 708,395..

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

' Be it known that we, FRANK E. RICHARD- SON and JOHN H. BARR, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Sewickley and Pittsburgh, county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Puddling Iron, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates broadly to the manufacture of wrought metals, and more particularly to a method and. apparatus adapted to take the place of the usual hand methods employed in the manufacture of wrought iron.

While the present time mechanical processes have been used. to a considerable extent in the manufacture of wrought iron, it is generally conceded that the hand puddled iron is of better quality. It is one of the objects of the present. invention to provide a method and apparatus adapted to incorporate the advantages obtained by the hand rabbling by bringing all. of the metal both into intimate contact with the, flame' within the furnace and with the slag bath.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown, for purposes of illustration, certain embodiments of the present invention, it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of our invention, and that changes in the construction and operation therein disclosed may be made without departing either from the spirit or the scope of our, invention, and more particularly the broader claims thereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a furnace constructed in accordance with the present invention, together with its operating means;

Figure 2 IS an end elevation of the furnace illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 a vertical sectional View through the furnace v Figure is detail view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the closure for the pouring spout;

Figure 5 is a front view of the closure shown in Figure 4t,-

Figure 6' a transverse sectional View, on an enlarged. scale, on the line 'VI- VI of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a view. similar to Figure 3, showing the furnace in position to permit discharge of the slag therefrom;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating the furnace in position to permit removal of the ball; i

. Figures 11 to 14 are diagrammatic views illustrating successive positions of a slightly modified form of actuating mechanism;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view il'lus trating the periods of rest and periods of work of the respective operating cams;

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 11, illustrating a slightly modified form of actuating mechanism, and I Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 15, illustrating the respective periods of Work and rest of the cams shown in Figure 16.

In carrying out the puddling reaction, it-

is admittedly of considerable importance to brmg every particle of the molten iron into intimate contact, not only with the reducing bath of slag, but also with the flame. 'This contact with the flame is of special importance after the metal begins to come tona ture. The difiiculties involved in the mechanical handling of iron have been very largely responsible for the continued practice of puddling by hand.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a furnace which isshaped in such manner as to insure intimate contact with the reducing bath during the refining operation, and also insuring such turning of the metal that every particle thereof is brought into reducing relationship with the flame employed. The operating mechanism provided forthe furnace is of such construction that the full advantages of thefurnace configuration are made available. I

In carrying out the present invention, there may be provided a furnace F having angularly disposed hearth portions 2 and 3. As is customary in the art, the furnace may comprise a metallic outer shell carrying a refractory inner lining having the proper characteristics. The furnace is preferably so shaped that the portion of the casing which supports the hearth portion 2 extends inwardly and over a part of this hearth. portion to form a pivotal mounting for the cover l. The casing is also so shaped that at the termination of the hearth portion 3 there is an abrupt upwardly extending portion 5 carrying a discharge outlet and spent 6 and provided with a suitable catch 7 for holding the cover in close-cl position. In lining the furnace, the lining is preferably so shaped as to provide an abruptly upwardly extending portion 8 similar to the portion 5 for the reasons hereinafter more fully pointed out.

The furnace is provided with trunnions 9 journaled in suitable bearin s 10 and preferably hollow so that i fuel supply line 11 may extend into the furnace coincident with its axis of oscillation at one end and a flue l2 cooperate with the other end. Carried by one of the trunnions is a ratchet wheel 13 with which a ratchet let is adapted to cooperate to hold the furnace in different inclined positions during different periods of operation thereof as may be desired. Carried by the other trunnion is an operating lever 15, by means of which the furnace may be mechanically oscillated for imparting the desired movement to the contents thereof.

The operating mechanism for the furnace may comprise a motor 16, the armature shaft of which is adapted to drive a cam shaft 17 through a reducing gear train 18. The cam shaft 17 carries a cam 19 operatively positioned to engage cross-heads 20 adjustably connected by bolts 21. Each of the crossheads preferably carries a guiding rod 22 which may be of angular cross section, as clearly indicated in detail in Figure 6, and adapted to cooperate with suitably shaped bearings whereby rotation of the crossheads is prevented. The outer end of one of the rods 2a is pivotally connected to a link 2st, which in turn is pivotally connected to the upper end of an o )erating lever 25 having a pivotal mounting 26 on. the supporting frame 27. The operating lever 25 may be provided with a series of pins 28 projecting therefrom and. located at different distances from the pivotal mounting of the le'erv Any one of these pins may be operatively connected at will with a pitman which has its opposite end operatively courier-(ml to the lever 15. The lever 15 may be formed with a curved slot 30 having adjustably mounted therein an actuating pin, 31 adapted to be adjusted to any :esired position in the slot without appreciably ailec ing-the normal position of the furnace. The lever 15 may also he provided with a fixed actuating pin 32 for cooperation with the pitman. ly reason of this construction, it

will be apparent that as the point of connection of the pitman is moved outwardly at one end from the pivotal mounting 26, or at its other end from the axis of rotation of the furnace, the length of stroke of the pitman will be increased, and consequently the angular movement of the furnace correspondin ly increased. This feature is of considerable importance, as it enables the perator to vary the movement of the furnace at difi erent times as may required by the character of the material undergoing treatment. To facilitate this change of connection, the pitman may be provided with an operating handle at each end thereof and with open slots 3% for cooperation with the respective pins.

The cam 15) for actuating the furnace is preferably constructed so as to provide alternate periods of work and rest. In the form illustrated in Figure 1, the cam is of such configuration that it will work through substantially 90 of rotation, and rest during 90 of rotation, the periods of rest and work alternating in such manner that there is a period of rest at the end of the stroke in each direction. Assuming the cam to be rotating in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1, this operation may he obtained by having the portion of the cam within the angle a concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft 17.

In operation, the furnace with the desired amount of molten iron through the charge opening 35. Thereafter, a molten bath of slag may be added through the same opening, or the materials may be added in the reverse order. After both the slag and the metal have been charged into the furnace, the charging opening 35 may have a suitable closure 36 applied thereto. The discharge spout 6 may also be closed at this time by a removable closure 37. The fuel issuing from the supply line H may he lighted, and the operating mechanism set in motion to oscillate the furnace. t will be understood that normally the furnace occupies the position illustrated in Figure 3. As the cam rotates in the direction of the arrow A, the pit-man will be moved to the right, thereby tilting the furnace into the position illustrated in Figure 7. After the comple tion of slightly less than of rotation from the position shown in Figure 1, the cam will bring the furnace into the position shown in Figure 7, in which the hearth portion in substantial parallelism with a horizontal plane. At this time, the body of molten iron I, will be spread in a thin layer over a comparatively large area, whtreby the oxidizing slag S, which tends to float on the surface of the bath, will be brought into more intimate relationship with the iron of the bath than would be possible if the bath were relatively deep and of small area. At

may be charged the beginningof the puddling operation, if may be desirable to so limit the stroke of the pitman that the furnace is not tilted beyond the position shown in Figure 7. This rather mild agitation of the metal would correspond in all substantial respects to that which it receives at the beginning of the hand puddling process. However, as the metal begins to come to nature, it may be desired to increase the throw of the pitman to thereby insure turning of the metal to bring the bottom particles on top in such manner that intimate contact thereof with the flame is insured. Vhcre the adjustment of the pitman is such as to produce this operation, the furnace may be tilted into the position shown in Figure 8. In this position the flow of the metal and slag willbring them against the abrupt portion 5, where- 'by they will tend to splash or curl upwardly and then fall backwardly. This operation will produce turning of the metal and a thorough intermingling thereof with the en the stroke of slag.

After thefurnace has been brought either into the posit-ion shown in Figure 7 or that shown in Figure 8, the cam will have rotated to such a point thatthe concentric portion thereof within the angle a will be in contact with one 'of the crossheads 20, while the concentric portion 1) will be in contact with the other crosshead. During the next 90 of rotation, therefore, the furnace will be permitted to remain in this position until the bath and the slag assume a substantially quiescent condition. Thereafter, the next'45 of rotation will be effective for bringing the furnace back substantially to the position shown in Figure'3. The next 45 will bring the furnace to the other extreme, in which the hearth portion 2 will either be in substantial parallelism with a horizontal plane,

or in which it will incline downwardly, as illustrated in connection with the hearth portion 3 iii-Figure 8, to cause the bath and the slag to impinge against the abrupt portion 8 to produce turning as desired. Thereafter, for the next 90 of rotation, the parts will remain in the position to which they have been moved.

The foregoing operation may be repeated as long as desired to properly effect removal of the carbon from the metal and bring it to nature preparatory to balling. At this time, the parts of the actuating mechanism will be ad'usted in such manner as to lengththe pitman so that the furnace may be thrown substantially into the position shown in Figure 9. The furnace may be held in this position by the ratchet mechanism 13- and 14, and the actuating mechanism either stopped or disconnected. The closure 37 will be removed and the slag drawn off, as clearly shown in this figure. After this operation, the actuating mechanism may be adjusted to shorten the stroke of the pitman, and thereby gently rock the furnace about its axis of rotation to work the metal in the curved portion between the angularly disposed hearth portions, and thereby ball the same. When the proper ball has been produced, the furnace may be turned to the position shown in Figure 10, the cover released, and the ball B removed from the furnace as desired and carried to a squeezer or other mechanism.

It will be apparent that even though the actuating mechanism is of such character that it is only working approximately half of the time, it is necessary to provide an operating motor of sufficient horsepower to efficiently produce the operations desired. In large plants, these characteristics may be taken advantage of by utilizing a single motor to drive a plurality of furnaces by extending the cam shaft 17 and providing additional cams thereon.

In Figures 11 to 1 1, both inclusive, there is illustrated a modified embodiment, in which the shaft 17. carries a cam 19 and a cam 19", these cams each being of the con struction before described, and being arranged with their axes at 90. XVith this construction, and with the parts rotating in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 11, the cam 19 will continue to move the dotted crosshead to the left until one'of the crossheads occupies a position of tangency to the portion 7) of the cam, and until the other crosshead-occupies a position of tangency to the portion 71 of this cam, while in like manner, the cam 19 will continue to rest until the crossheads indicated in full lines love out of this condition of tangency from the portions a and a respectively. Thereafter, the crossheads indicated by dotted lines will remain substantially stationary through the next 90 of rotation, while the crossheads indicated in full lines will be moved to the left. The positions occupied by the parts after the rotation through 90 from that shown in Figure 11 are indicated in Figure 12, in which the cam 19 has not quite completed its working stroke, and in which the cam 19 has not completed its idle stroke or period of rest. 90 of rotation from that shown in Figure 12 will bring the parts into the position illustrated in Figure 13, while the next 90 will bring the parts into the position illustrated in Figure 14. In Figure 15 the periods of work and of rest of the cams are diagrammatically represented, the cam 19 being shown as commencing with a period of work indicated by thereferencecharacter VT, followed by :1 period of rest R, etc. The cam 19, however, is shown as having a period of rest R coinciding with respectto the angular rotation with the period of work W of the cam 19, followed by a period. of work W coinciding with the period of rest R of the cam 19. It will be apparent that in this manner the operating motor continuously works, but that the periods of worl: do not overlap, so that a single motor may advantageously be used for operating two furnaces.

In Figure 16 this same inherent operation of the cam is taken advantage of for the operation of three furnaces by providing the shaft 117 with cams 119, 119 and 119 hav ing their axes at 120 to each other. The cams in this case, however, will have a modified shape such that the portion included between the sides of the angle (Z on each of the cams will represent 120 instead of as was the case with the angle a shown in Fig ure 1. In this manner, each of the cams will be effective during 60 for producing movement of its respective crosshead, during the next 120 for holding a crosshead stationary, during the next 60 for returning the crosshead, and during the next 120 for holding the crosshead stationary in the new position. This condition is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 17, in which the cam 11. illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 16 as just about ready to connnence its period of idleness, is indicated as being idle for 120", the cam 119, illustrated in heavy lines in Figure 16 as just about ready to commence its period of work, is indicated as working for 60, and in which the am 119", illus trated in light full lines in Figure 16 as about in the center of its period of idleness, is indicated as being idle for 00 and then working for 60. It ill be understood that these periods of idleness are indicated in Figure 17 by dotted lines, while the periods of work are indicated by heavy lines, the cams being so arranged that the period of work of one cam imn'iediatcly succeeds that of another in such manner that the effect the same as though a single cam were provided for coi'itinuous operation.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the u'ovision of a. furnace having angularly dispoxed hearth portions of such nature that they may be alternately brought into operation for distributing the bath in a thin layer, together with operating mechanism for producing such a movement of the furnace.

l urther :ulvantuges arise from the provision of the abruptl extending portions at the termination of each of the hearth portions, whcrelr; the bath may be turned periodically to bring all portions into intimate contact with the flame and slag, together with operating mechanism whereby the de sired movement for producing this operation may be obtained.

Still further advantages arise from the construction of the operating mechanism such that periods of Work are followed by periods of rest, and. such that an adjustment to produce different characteristic operations of the furnace may be obtained.

We claim:

1. Puddling apparatus, comprising a furnace havino' angularly disposed hearth portions, all of which are normally out of par allelism to a horizontal plane, and means for oscillating said furnace to bring such portions alternately into a position of substantial parallelism to a horizontal plane.

2'. Puddling apparatus, comprising a fun nace having two substantially flat angularly disposed hearth portions, forming a hearth substantially if-shaped in one cross section, and means for oscillating said furnace to bring such portions alternately into a position. to receive the bath of molten metal within the furnace.

3. Puddling apparatus, comprising a furnaee having angularly disposed hearth portions, all of which are normally out of parallolism to a horizontal plane, and means for oscillating said furnace to bring such portions alternately into a position of substantial parallelism to a horizontal plane, said means being adjustable for varying the amount of oscillation of the furnace.

1-. Paddling apparatus, comprising a furnace having its hearth formed of two sub stantially flat angularly disposed downwardly inclined hearth portions, and means for oscillating said furnace to bring such portions alternately into a position to receive the bath of molten metal within the furnace, said means being adjustable for varying the amount of oscillation of the furnace.

5. Puddling apparatus, comprising a furnace having angularly disposed hearth portions, and means for oscillating said furnace to bring such portions alternately into a position. of substantial parallelism to horizontal plane, said means being effective for holding such portions alternately in the position to which they have been moved for a predetern'iined period of operation.

6. Puddling apparatus, comprising a furnace having angularly disposed hearth portions, and means for oscillating said furnace to bring such portions alternately into a po s tion of substantial parallelism to a hori zontal plane, said means being adjustable for varying the amount of oscillation of the furnace and being effective for holding such portions alternately in the position to which they have been moved for a predetermined period of operation.

7. Puddling apparatus, comprising a furnace having angularly disposed intersecting hearth portions each terminating in abrupt ends, and means for oscillatingsaid furnace I to bring such portions alternately into a position of substantial parallelism to a horizontal plane and cause the contents of the furnace to impinge against said ends.

8. Puddling apparatus, comprising a furnace having its hearth formed of tWo substantially flat angularly disposed downwardly inclined hearth portions terminating in abrupt ends, and means for oscillating said furnace to bring such portions alternately into a position of substantial parallelism to a horizontal plane and cause the contents of 'the furnace to impinge against said ends.

9. Puddling apparatus, comprising a furnace having a hearth portion, and operating means connected to said furnace for alternately causing the bath Within the furnace to pass from one end thereof to the other, said means being effective for holding the furnace substantially stationary in each extreme position thereof throughout a predetermined period of operation of the furnace.

10. Puddling apparatus, comprising a fur nace having a hearth portion, and operating means connected to said furnace for alternately causing the bath Within the furnace to pass from one end thereof to the other, said means being effective for holding the furnace substantially stationary in each extreme position thereof throughout a predetermined period of operation of the furnace and having an adjustable connection With the furnace for varying the amount of movement thereof.

11. Operating mechanism for a puddling furnace, comprising an operating cam effective for moving the furnace to one extreme position, holding the furnace in such position, thereafter moving the furnace to another extreme position, and holding the furnace in such position.

12. The method of puddling, comprising the stepsof alternately transferring a molten bath from a thin layer on one heart-h portion to a similar layer on another hearth portion, and permitting the bath to assume a quiescent condition between successive transfers.

13. The method of puddling, comprising the steps of alternately transferring a molten bath from a thin layer on one hearth portion to a similar layer on another hearth portion, permitting the bath to assume a quiescent condition between successive transfers, and effecting a turning of the metal between successive transfers thereof.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands. 7 FRANK E. RICHARDSON. JOHN H. BARR. 

